Information Publication Scheme

AUSTRAC publishes the following information on its website to fulfil Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), which requires Australian Government agencies subject to the Act to establish an IPS.

The IPS commenced on 1 May 2011 and requires AUSTRAC to publish a broad range of information on its website, and to make that information available for downloading where possible.

Agency plan

AUSTRAC has an agency IPS plan as required by section 8(1) of the FOI Act. AUSTRAC's IPS plan explains how the agency developed and implemented its IPS, and intends to maintain the IPS in the future.

Who we are

AUSTRAC is Australia's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regulator and specialist financial intelligence unit (FIU). AUSTRAC was established in 1989 under the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988 (FTR Act) as a statutory authority within the Attorney-General's portfolio and is continued in existence by section 209 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act).

Agency organisation structure

Statutory appointments

The AUSTRAC Chief Executive Officer (AUSTRAC CEO) is appointed under sections 211 and 214 of the AML/CTF Act. AUSTRAC's CEO, Mr Paul Jevtovic APM, was appointed on 17 November 2014. Section 214 of the AML/CTF Act states that the AUSTRAC CEO:

is to be appointed by the Minister by written instrument

is to be appointed on a full-time basis

holds office for the period specified in the instrument of appointment; the period must not exceed five years.

What we do

Functions and powers

The AUSTRAC CEO reports to the Minister for Justice on the operations of the agency, which support the functions of the CEO under the FTR Act and AML/CTF Act.

In its regulatory role, AUSTRAC oversees compliance with the requirements of the AML/CTF Act and FTR Act by a wide range of financial services providers, bullion sellers, designated remittance service providers, the gambling industry and other specified reporting entities, as well as cash dealers (defined in the FTR Act). Businesses are required to undertake customer identification, reporting, record keeping and other obligations under the AML/CTF Act.

Where AUSTRAC detects cases of non-compliance by a regulated entity, it may take appropriate and measured enforcement action to secure that entity's compliance. AUSTRAC has a range of enforcement powers at its disposal, including issuing notices compelling businesses to provide information to the agency, and directing businesses to undertake a risk assessment or external audit.

AUSTRAC can also issue remedial directions, accept enforceable undertakings, and apply to the Federal Court for injunctions or civil penalty orders. The maximum civil penalty for a body corporate under the AML/CTF Act is $11 million and the maximum civil penalty for an individual is $2.2 million. Criminal sanctions can also apply for non-compliance.

In its intelligence role, AUSTRAC collects, analyses and disseminates financial intelligence obtained through financial transaction reports to its various partner agencies, as well as international counterparts. AUSTRAC's domestic partners include Australian Government law enforcement, national security, revenue, regulatory and human services agencies, as well as state and territory law enforcement and revenue agencies.

Operational information

The FOI Act requires that agencies publish 'operational information' as part of their IPS. Section 8A(1) of the FOI Act defines operational information as 'information held by the agency to assist the agency to perform or exercise the agency's functions or powers in making decisions or recommendations affecting members of the public (or any particular person or entity, or class of persons or entities).' AUSTRAC does not publish 'operational information' that is prohibited from release under an enactment.

AUSTRAC publishes the following categories of operational information on its website:

In accordance with the Privacy Commissioner's data matching guidelines ('The use of data matching in Commonwealth Administration-Guidelines'), the AUSTRAC Generic Program Protocol describes the security safeguards the agency has in place to protect data in the AUSTRAC database.

Senate Order No. 9 requires AUSTRAC to publish a list of all contracts it has entered into to the value of $100,000 or more. Refer to the 'Multi-use list' for more information about AUSTRAC's contracts and to access a list of all contracts AUSTRAC has entered into to the value of $100,000 or more.

Advertising/public information projects ($100,000 or more)

AUSTRAC does not have any current advertising/public information projects of $100,000 or more.

Information requested by Parliament through a Committee

AUSTRAC has not received any orders or requests for information from the Parliament. However, AUSTRAC provides submissions to Parliamentary Committees, which are available via the Parliament of Australia website.

Senate Estimates

AUSTRAC officers may be asked to appear before Senate Estimates hearings, which are held three times per year. AUSTRAC falls under the portfolio of the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

AUSTRAC annual reports

Routinely requested information and disclosure log

AUSTRAC is required by the FOI Act to publish information in documents to which it routinely gives access in response to FOI requests. AUSTRAC is also required, under section 11C of the FOI Act, to publish a disclosure log, containing information in documents to which the agency has provided access under the FOI Act.

Consultation arrangements

The IPS requires AUSTRAC to publish details of arrangements for members of the public to comment on specific policy proposals for which the agency is responsible, including how (and to whom) those comments may be made. AUSTRAC has in place a range of public consultation arrangements:

The AUSTRAC Industry Consultative Forums provide an opportunity for the AUSTRAC CEO to consult with reporting entities or their representatives. The forums consist of the Financial Consultative Forum, the Gambling Consultative Forum and the Major Reporters Forum.

Most AML/CTF Rules published by AUSTRAC are initially released in draft form for public comment. Draft AML/CTF Rules, and details of how and to whom members of the public can comment on the Rules, are published on the AUSTRAC website.

Privacy Consultative Committee

The AUSTRAC Privacy Consultative Committee comprises representatives of privacy, civil liberties and consumer groups, and usually holds two meetings each year.

Public representation on the Privacy Consultative Committee is provided by representatives of Liberty Victoria, the Australian Privacy Foundation and the Australian Consumers' Association.

The membership also includes representatives from AUSTRAC's partner agencies and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Officers from the Attorney-General's Department attend as observers.

Our priorities

The agency's strategy documents, covering the agency's key functions, outline the specific priorities for these key areas for the current year and beyond

Contact us

AUSTRAC's Freedom of Information page contains details about who to contact about access to the agency's information or documents under the FOI Act.

Comments and feedback about AUSTRAC's IPS, or the agency's IPS plan, can be sent to AUSTRAC either by post or email to:

NOTE: The AUSTRAC IPS contains links to some documents that are currently only available to download in a Portable Document Format (PDF). For more information on requesting an alternative format,visit the accessibility page.